What were the primary reasons for this European crisis, aside from the flawed management of the Euro?

“The Greeks borrowed and consumed recklessly, and got totally uncompetitive at making things and providing services like tourism,” says Yiannis Boutaris, mayor of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city.

“Many got into debt when times were good, buying houses and cars and starting families,” says Ricardo Jiménez, who runs the local branch of the Catholic charity Caritas.

Borrowing and overspending caused the debt crisis in most countries in Europe. People forgot to live simply and save, to be happy and content with what they have. Materialism at its worst.

The Philippines is no longer a stranger to foreign debts caused mainly by graft and corruption, not exactly by majority of people who are big on spending as most Pinoys are having difficulties finding jobs. The country survives because of overseas Filipino workers.

Today, we’re in the middle of commercial boom and low-interest credits and people are starting to spend more than what they have. Ten years ago, a person with a modest income couldn’t apply for a credit card and was content with what he has – a roof on his head, basic utilities, food, fleece jackets to warm him at night, sending kids to public schools, riding the jeep. Today credit cards and loan facilities are being offered like burgers to anyone. People are buying more – expensive houses, condo units, latest gadgets, food you hardly eat. I just hope we don’t bite more than what we can chew.

After voting for Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature the other day, they emailed me this certificate. I got this through an online voting and donating $2 via Paypal, while I was also purchasing best weight loss pills online.

And the good news is the Underground River is now included as one the 7 Wonders of Nature! Other sights that were included are South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo, The Amazon rainforest, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, and South Africa’s Table Mountain. This, by the way, is a provisional list. Meaning it might change come early 2012 when the Swiss foundation, New7Wonders, finalizes the verdict.

If you’re a proud Pinoy, go ahead and vote for the underground river! Voting ends tomorrow morning.

If you haven’t been to the Underground River in Palawan like myself, it’s worth including it in your next trip.

The list may not be ideal for you who seek out thrill in some snowy mountain peaks or expecting to be wowed by European heritage. Some of you may be turned off by the island setting (obviously we are an island people). Or you might think of these places as where people are smuggled in and out, manufacturing sites for Safe and effective diet pills and herbal medications, and possibly havens for terrorists. But do take note that there are places in this list that can offer you a one-of-a-kind adventure from the outskirts of the Amazon to an African wildlife.

AFRICA
Burundi – visa issued upon arrival 
Cape Verde – visa issued upon arrival 
Comoros – A free 24 h transit visa issued upon arrival at the airport. Within 24 hours this must be converted into a full visa at the immigration office in Moroni (fee payable) 
Djibouti – 10 days visa issued upon arrival for DJF3,000; 30 days visa issued upon arrival for DJF5,000 [4]
Gambia – At port of entry passport 24-72 h transit pass is issued. This must be converted into a full visa valid up to 1 month at the immigration department in Banjul (fee payable) 
Kenya – 90 days visa issued upon arrival for US$25 
Madagascar – 90 days visa issued upon arrival for MGA140,000 
Morocco – 90 days 
Mozambique – 30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$25 
Saint Helena – visa issued upon arrival
Seychelles – 30 days 
Tanzania – visa issued upon arrival for US$50 
Togo – 7 days visa issued upon arrival 
Uganda – 180 days visa issued upon arrival for US$50 
Zambia – 90 days visa issued upon arrival for US$50 

ASEAN
Brunei – 14 days 
Cambodia – 21 days 
Indonesia – 30 days 
Laos – 30 days 
Malaysia – 30 days 
Singapore – 30 days 
Thailand – 30 days 
Vietnam – 21 days 

NON-ASEAN
Azerbaijan – 30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$100 
Republic of China - 30 days if holding a valid visa for Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Schengen countries, United Kingdom or United States 
Georgia – 90 days visa issued on arrival for US$10 ~ US$200 
Hong Kong – 14 days 
India – 30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$60 
Iran - 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) 
Israel - 90 days 
Macau – 30 days 
Maldives – 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) 
Mongolia – 21 days 
Nepal – 15/30/90 days visa issued upon arrival for US$25/40/100 
Sri Lanka – 30 days 
Timor-Leste – 30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$30 

OCEANA
Cook Islands – 31 days 
Fiji – 120 days Visitor’s Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge) 
Marshall Islands – 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Federated States of Micronesia – 30 days 
Niue – 30 days 
Palau – 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) 
Samoa – 60 days Visitor’s Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge) 
Tuvalu – 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge) 
Vanuatu – 30 days 

NORTH AMERICA
Costa Rica – 30 days 
Dominica – 21 days 
Haiti – 90 days 
Nicaragua - 90 days 
Saint Kitts and Nevis – 14 days 
Saint Lucia – 6 weeks visa issued upon arrival for US$50 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – 30 days 
Turks and Caicos Islands – 30 days 

SOUTH AMERICA
Bolivia – 59 days 
Brazil – 90 days 
Colombia – 90 days 
Ecuador – 90 days 
Peru – 90 days 
Suriname – 120 days 

After checking on our POS programs and reviewing the barcode scanner proposal, I headed straight to the MRT station only to find out that the elevator was malfunctioning and the escalators were busted.

So I chose the lesser evil – took the stairs. Imagine the pain in my legs afterwards. Not to mention they wobbled afterwards. Then another painful task of squeezing myself into the crowded trains. But thinking about the calorie-burning benefit of what I just did brought comfort to me. I was spared from the crazy traffic in the highway and probably burned half of what I ate during lunch, only to get it back later tonight.

We all complain that Manila has the worst traffic in the world. But we’re not even that close to Mexico City which recently topped a poll as the world’s worst place to drive. We’re even nowhere the top 20.

Cool.

The best thing about this trip is knowing that I can maximize my budget up to a certain extent. Let’s see what I can make out of P100,000.

To travel across the UK, less Northern Ireland, I would need at least P120k (or 1,700 GBP) including miscellaneous expenses. If a trip to Belfast is included, I might end up spending a night or two in a train station. If I’m going to be bent on saving more, I might as well consider cutting my hostel expenditures by staying in my cousin’s place in Chessington and spend an hour of train-ride to central London. I might also stay in a friend’s place in Manchester on my way to Liverpool and Glasgow.

Overall, I am not sure if this is already the ideal budget trip. Anyway, I’ve got a year and a half to figure it out.

The news of Osama bin Laden’s death came in the middle of bro’s birthday and a visit to a friend in a chiropractic school. I thought it was some kind of a lame joke knowing Osama has been outside the radar for years and the Allied troops have been combing the mountains of Afghanistan and the rest of the Mid-East for his trace. In fact, most people have probably gone tired since 9/11.

But not until Barrack Obama confirmed and the memories of 9/11 once more came flooding in, overturning those sympathetic feelings we might all have for bin Laden’s daughter who reportedly witnessed how his dad died. Although, nothing would beat that overwhelming tragedy that befell us more than 10 years ago – seeing two buildings collapse burying with it thousands of innocents lives.

Maybe you’d agree with me – justice has just been served.

It would be a visit to a dear friend who is now based in Singapore. This is going to be exciting, knowing her to be adventurous and all. I might just pick on some of that positive vibe. And hopefully I won’t be spending the entire 4 days just sleeping, or worse, doing conference calls.

I’ve just prepared an itinerary for the trip to make the brief stay worthwhile. I might also include visits to some of my former workmates who have been living there. If you’ve got tips as to where the best places are in Singapore, feel free to pitch in.

There was a time when these coveted superhero roles were only given to true blue Americans. But a lot has changed over the years, given the fact that America is currently running out of actors who can fit in this type of roles. (I don’t particularly see Leonardo DiCaprio in those tight fitting wardrobes. Neither Zack Efron. They’re better off with roles that don’t require too much muscle work like political thrillers, social-oriented movies or endorsing Nikon rifle scopes in safari adventure movies.) It could also perhaps be simply attributed to America’s global image today, which is certainly becoming unpopular.

Anyway, three big names have been on the spotlight – Christian Bale (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman) and Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man). While Christian Bale has been reprising his role as the Dark Knight twice already and is working on the third (Dark Knight Rises), Cavill and Garfield are technically newcomers in the American superhero genre. Cavill was said to have auditioned long before for the coveted Superman role, only to see it given to American actor Brandon Routh. This time around, he prevailed over another British actor, Matthew Goode. (I swear, I loved this guy!) Andrew Garfield, an American-born actor who grew up in Surrey, London, was still reeling from a successful audition that made him the next webslinger to date. It’s good to see someone who isn’t all muscles, but a regular guy who can convincingly play his role as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

What does this news tell Filipinos who are so vent on pursuing a student visa in the United Kingdom as if it’s some cheap flight deals and find work on the sides? This year, UK immigration has already tightened the screw by reducing the number of work hours, making it hard for most working students finance their studies. A year from now, the effect of the tuition fee hike will definitely bleed everyone’s wallets. It was not any wonder why students in London smashed windows at the Supreme Court, urinated on Winston Churchill’s statue, attacking Prince Charles’ car and burned the Union Jack. They felt cheated, and as British citizens, they all had the right to.

So if you’re an economic migrant trying to find your luck in the UK, abandon the dream and go find your fortune elsewhere.